New ambulance in Dawson City, Yukon, better for patients and paramedics, officials say
It's always fun to try out a new vehicle and it's even better when that vehicle comes equipped with high-tech gadgets.
On Monday, paramedics in Dawson City, Yukon, spent all day testing out their newest ambulance. The vehicle will replace the aging ambulance that's currently the town's primary care service vehicle.
The new ambulance comes equipped with features such as air ride suspension, to allow the ambulance to glide over potholes or other rough highway conditions. It also comes with a five-point restraining harness for community responders to sit comfortably and securely while en route to the hospital.
But the one feature that had paramedics really stoked was the Ferno iNX power stretcher, for easily moving patients into or out of the vehicle.
"When I first started being a paramedic, the evolution of the stretcher used to be just a plain stretcher," said Kent Winterbottom, commander of clinical education with Yukon Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
"One person would have to stand on either side and they would pull the whole stretcher out, bear the entire weight, lower it down, and then have to lift the whole thing up."
Now with the power stretcher, Winterbottom said the whole process could technically be done by one person with the press of a button.
Dawson paramedic David McDonald operating the new ambulance's power stretcher. (Chris MacIntyre/CBC)
Winterbottom said all of the ambulances in Whitehorse are now equipped with similar power stretchers. He said Dawson is the first community outside of Whitehorse to have one, though Watson Lake and Carcross are also slated to each get one as well.
Winterbottom said the price tag for Dawson's new ambulance is around half a million dollars. He said the stretcher alone cost $250,000.
Cost is worth it
Alison Harper is the acting deputy chief of community operations for Yukon EMS. She said investing in equipment reflects how Yukon EMS invests in its staff and the communities.
"Being able to provide a higher level of care to Dawson residents and surrounding area is very important to us," she said. "Patient care is the biggest outcome and this is just going to help create that."
Alison Harper with Yukon EMS said an investment into new equipment for paramedics is only going to improve the quality of care patients receive in Dawson. (Chris MacIntyre/CBC)
Harper said her favourite part of the new ambulance is also the stretcher. She said it's a tool that will prevent injuries to patients and also paramedics.
"Being a paramedic for many years I remember the days of trying to lift," Harper said. "Taking that away is great."
All of the paramedics and first responders who were training on the new ambulance and its features said it took only 30 minutes to get used to how things worked. They said with the additional support from the new equipment and Yukon EMS they are confidently going to raise the quality of care they are able to provide community members in Dawson.
